Sheikh Abdullah’s mediation thwarts calls to politicize Hajj

CAIRO – 21 August 2017: Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad’s attempts to politicize the Hajj matters on the Saudi territories have seen failure following talks between the Saudi leadership and Qatar’s Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani, which resulted in easing border restrictions for Qatari pilgrims.

Last week, the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met in Jeddah with Sheikh Abdullah, a Qatari royal family member, marking the first visit of a Qatari royal family member to Saudi Arabia since a political standoff erupted 11 weeks ago when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar.

The Jeddah meeting was followed by another one on Thursday between Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, currently in Morocco on a private vacation, with Sheikh Abdullah in Tangier, Morocco.

The king ordered the reopening of the Salwa border crossing for the entry of Qatari pilgrims and to cover all costs of transporting pilgrims from Dammam’s King Fahad International Airport and Al-Ahsa International Airport under the Program of the Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud for Hajj and Umrah.

Since the four Arab countries severed their ties with Doha over accusations of the country’s support for terror and meddling in the internal affairs of its neighbors, many world leaders and top diplomats, including the emir of Kuwait, have tried mediating relations between them, but none have been successful in ending the rift.

Sheikh Abdullah, the grandson of the former Emir of Qatar Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani, launched recently his official Twitter account to brief the public on his mediation efforts to creat hope that he could achieve full reconciliation between Doha and members of the Arab quartet.

A number of Twitter users from Arab and Gulf states have appreciated Sheikh Abdullah’s mediation initiative with Saudi Arabia under current political and economic rift.

The users expressed solidarity and unity with Sheikh Abdullah in current situation after he tweeted on Friday to thank Saudi King Salman bin Abdelaziz for his decision to open the Salwa border crossing for the entry of Qatari pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's territories without electronic permits.

A hashtag #عبدالله_ال_ثاني_نورت_التويتر, meaning “Welcome to Twitter Abdullah Al Thani”, was heavily circulated across Twitter after the tweets. A large set of officials, politicians, writers and public figures used the hashtag to welcome Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali to the scene.